Peak District running event cancelled due to rain

The Dovedale Dash was meant to take place on Sunday with more than 1,000 participants expected

A Peak District running event due to attract more than 1,000 participants has been cancelled due to recent bad weather.

The Dovedale Dash, a 5 mile (8km) cross-country run, takes runners through the River Dove, past Dovedale's famous stepping stones.

Organisers said they had called off Sunday's event because the car park was waterlogged and the water levels in the River Dove were "very high".

They said the 1,300 expected runners will be contacted in the next few days with options to move their entry to next year, donate to local charities or get a refund.

Some runners taking on the challenge in fancy dress

Now in its 65th year, the event sees dozens of people in fancy dress form part of the line-up.

The competitors run in the scenery of the Peak District and valleys of the River Dove.

Chairman of the Dovedale Dash, Cyril Challinor, 80, said: "We really do appreciate your support in taking this very difficult decision, it's something people have been doing for 60 years so we are disappointed.

"We have recently moved the dash date from November into October due to horrible conditions this time of year.

"We are now planning for next year and hoping the weather is kinder."

Some people take on the challenge with their pet dogs